Russia’s North Ossetia Opens Representation in Tskhinvali

A representation of the Russia’s North Ossetian government in breakaway South Ossetia was opened in the capital Tskhinvali, the South Ossetian Press and Information Commission reported on December 26.

Boosting the integration process and facilitating the implementation of bilateral agreements signed between the governments of South Ossetia and North Ossetia will be the major task of the office, head of representation Gerasim Khugaev said.

Tbilisi has already described the move as “a destructive step” and yet another example of the Russian Federation’s “interference into Georgia’s internal affairs.”

“We believe that this step of Russia, which acts as a mediator in the peace process, undertaken with total ignorance of the Georgian side, is an attempt to lead the peace process into a deadlock which will only contribute to further fueling the already existing tensions in the region,” Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Merab Antadze said in a statement.

Antadze is expected to travel to Tskhinvali on December 27 to participate in, as Tbilisi put it, an “informal meeting” between the negotiators from the quadripartite Joint Control Commission, which includes the Georgian, South Ossetian, Russian and Russia’s North Ossetian sides.

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